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Weddings

About

Claire Stranger-Ford is a professional violinist based in the North West, who offers acoustic or electric violin with accompaniment of professional quality backing tracks for all important wedding moments. Claire is an experienced artist, who aims to provide a bespoke music experience. She offers her services for Weddings, Civil partnerships, birthday parties, funerals, corporate functions, promotions, marriage proposals and other special occasions. She covers all locations in Yorkshire, Cheshire, the Lake District, Cumbria, Merseyside, Derbyshire and Leicestershire as well as large parts of Scotland.

Experience

Claire has more than fifteen years of experience working with a number of orchestras like the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Halle, Welsh National Opera, Opera North and Northern Ballet Theatre. She has played at hundreds of weddings and also at other events with string quartets, a jazz trio and as a soloist.

Services offered

Claire boasts an impressive repertoire, featuring a wide variety of music genres, ranging from jazz to Pop to latest hits. She offers tailored packages and prices to suit various demands and budgets. For weddings she is willing to play at any part of the event, including during the ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast.

Typical songs include:

Canon in D - Pachelbel

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

Perfect - Ed Sheeran

One Day Like This - Elbow

Greatest Day - Take That

That's Amore - Dean Martin

Come Fly With Me - Frank Sinatra

To Make You Feel My Love - Adele

I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston

Levitating - Dua Lipa

All You're Dreaming Of - Liam Gallagher

  • Woman-owned
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Frequently asked questions

What services do you offer?

Ceremony music
Cocktail/banquet music
Entertainment

What is included in the wedding package?

I play for the ceremony (inc. pre-ceremony). I can play for ceremony and drinks reception. I can play for ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast. Also play for the evening entertainment

How far in advance should I contact you?

It is always best to contact me as early as possible in order to secure the booking

What style of music do you offer?

Classical
Lounge
Disco
Jazz
Rock
Latest hits
Pop

Type of musical group:

Solo
Soloist

Size of group:

Soloist

Repertoire:

I have a huge repertoire including (classical), Canon in D - Pachelbel, Arrival of the queen of Sheba - Handel (Rat Pack), Come fly with me, That's Amoré, My Way (Pop), Ed Sheeran, Take That, Adele

Is it possible to request something that's not in the repertoire?

Yes, absolutely! If you can't find your favourite songs in my extensive repertoire lists, as long as I can find a professional quality backing track I can learn your favourites

What's your experience?

I have been playing professionally with orchestras around the country for the last 18 years. When I was a student I started playing at weddings with a string quartet and then started playing solo

Do you have your own equipment?

Yes

Do you need specific materials or conditions to offer your service?

No

Can you travel?

Yes, the whole of the UK

Is there a charge for travelling?

Yes

Do you cover more than one wedding a day?

Yes

Do you work alone or do you have a team of professionals?

Alone

What is the length of time of the act?

It varies on what the client requires. My minimum time is 1 hour to cover pre-ceremony and civil ceremony (Church ceremony 1.5 hours) and maximum time is 5 hours to cover ceremony, drinks & breakfast

How much time do you need to prepare for an act?

I will liaise with the client a few months before the big day in order to learn songs. The minimum time I require for new songs is 1 month in advance

Do you do open-air acts?

Yes

Do you charge per hour or per event?

Per event

If needed, would you be able to work extra hours?

Yes

How do you charge extra time?

I charge extra time on a half hour basis. £25 per half hour

What are the forms of payment?

I require a 20% deposit by BACS to secure the date and then BACS payment 2 weeks before the event to settle the balance
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Reviews for Violin4weddings

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.
5.0 out of 5 rating
5.0 out of 5 rating
4 reviews
100% recommend it
  • Quality of the service
    5 out of 5 rating
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    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value for money
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    5 out of 5 rating
Katherine
Katherine B. Sent on 13/11/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect accompaniment to your day

I booked Claire from reviews on Hitched and it was one of the finer details of our day that I was so pleased we organised. Claire is so professional and an exceptional musician. I had some last minute issues with timings and she was so accommodating. I just wish I’d have taken more time to enjoy her repertoire but I was so busy with photos. If you are looking for a string accompaniment for your wedding look no further than Violin4Weddings
Sophia
Sophia Sent on 23/06/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Claire stranger-ford

Claire...
How do we even begin to explain the magical touch you gave our day!!! After 2 gruelling postponements and overall bride & groom experience, the weeks/days leading up to our big day Claire kept me feeling so calm, collected and optimistic that our day would be everything we wished for and more... And wow was she right!! And that's simply talking of her friendly, kind and supportive approach to the booking side of things and well, her playing is a whole other topic...

Everyone sang Claire's praises for how she held herself throughout the entire time she was with us. Her grace, her smiley, warm and welcoming face (mask and all) and her talent just truly completed our big day. Even if there was moments of us being busy with our photographer, videographer or simply just simmering down from our emotional 'I do's' she played as if the entire world was watching and gave it her all. My dad continuously added from time to time how blown away he was with her professionalism, how she held her own and continued to do what she does best no matter how the day unveiled.

But above all, our guests, my father and my husband to be all said that without the emotion the vows brought, or the whole experience itself with all we had gone through as a couple - Just Claire simply playing brought them to tears. Tears of beauty and joy only however.

Claire, you will always hold such a special place in my heart. You helped our day be the day of my dreams and just what I always envisioned. And as you know our story, you know that we are planning an I do Part 2 to celebrate with all those who sadly couldnt be with us due to restrictions - Mainly, my husbands family in Ukraine. So, if you would join us... We wouldnt have any else there with us.

We hope to celebrate our love with you right with us again, you talented lady, you.

Thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Mr & Mrs Korbun
Garthmyl Hall, Montgomery
08.05.2021

Jessica
Jessica C. Sent on 25/08/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Don't miss the opportunity to book Claire!

Claire was an absolute dream to work with through the months leading up to the wedding as she helped us to plan our playlist. She was equally brilliant when our big day arrived as she was thoroughly professional but also really warm and friendly. She lit up the room with her smile and is so talented - wait until you see her extensive repertoire; she can play basically anything!
Our only regret is that we didn't get chance to chat to her as we were so busy with photos etc. but I believe some family and friends were able to convey our thoughts on how fantastic she was. We would highly recommend Violin4weddings and Claire – who we’d like to thank once again for being such an important part of our magical, special day!
L
Lisa K. Sent on 15/11/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely amazing

Heard her play many years ago and promised myself if I was ever organising my own wedding I would ask her to play … just amazing all the guests loved her so much and such a beautiful person.
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3 Beech Road, Bebington CH63 8PE Wirral (Merseyside)

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